By AP
LANSING, MI –
Michigan is moving forward with plans to delay hundreds of road and bridge projects scheduled for the next five years because of its inability to raise enough money to match federal transportation dollars.
The Michigan Department of Transportation told the state's Transportation Commission on Thursday it was going ahead with reduced 2011-2014 road and bridge construction. MDOT earlier this year announced the possibility of such delays.
The agency says it's faced with a shortfall of at least $84 million to match available federal funding beginning in 2011, due to declining revenues from state gas taxes and vehicle registrations.
MDOT expects to delay 100 pavement improvement projects involving 375 miles of road as well as 575 bridge repair projects.